BCCI concerned over delayed submission of reports

Shillong, Jun 2: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), on Saturday, expressed concern over the delayed submission of utilisation certificates of funds by the state cricket boards in the north-east region.

"Except for Meghalaya, individual states in the north-east, who are the associate members of the BCCI, have not sent us their accounts and project reports," BCCI vice-president, Chitrak Mitra told PTI on the sidelines of the official inauguration of the Shillong Cricket Academy.

Nagaland, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim are currently associate members. The BCCI had given Rs. 50 lakh assistance for promotion of the game in these states.

In the north-east, Assam and Tripura are the only permanent members of the BCCI.

Inaugurating the Academy here, Mitra said, Meghalaya has been awarded the second installment of another Rs. 50 lakh for their prompt submission of utilisation certificates to the BCCI.

He said these states should submit their accounts and project report "in time" if they are to avail the second installment of another Rs. 50 lakh.

Lauding the Meghalaya Cricket Association, the BCCI vice-president said the association was the only one which was awarded Rs. 1 crore in all so far.

Meghalaya was the runners up in the U-19 and U-22 championship for the associate members held recently. However, the U-16 team did not fare well.

Mitra hopes that with this (cricket academy) new project of "catching them young", the U-16 side will also do well in the BCCI Associate members championship in a couple of years' time.

The Academy has more than 100 children in the age group of 9-12 years in its first batch.

Headed by Gideon Kharkongor, six coaches give training in basic cricketing skills, nutrition, game psychology, besides other key ingredients to the students.

The budding cricketers also avail facilities like training kits, gymnasium, bowling machine and are reviewed using video analysis, Kharkongor said.

Meanwhile, the Meghalaya government has earmarked 25 acres for the development of cricket in the state at the new township at Mawdiangdiang.